Miter block

ABSTRACT

A miter block suitable for cutting a mitered end on a strip of material &#34;L&#34; shape in cross-section has a receiving slot extending from edge to edge in an upper surface to receive the strip of material and two cutter guide slots at right angles to one another, the slots having a common intersection with the receiving slot at one of the edges of the upper surface.

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to a mitre block.

It is known to provide a mitre block of generally `U` shapedcross-section having guide slots extending across both of the uprightsof the block. The article to be mitred is positioned in the slot formedbetween the uprights and a cutting implement, commonly a saw, is guidedby a guiding slot in each upright to cut at the required angle. Such amitre block is difficult to employ for accurate cutting with a knife,particularly one with a short rigid blade, since the handle part of theknife is obstructed by one of the uprights.

According to the present invention there is provided a mitre blockhaving an upper surface, a receiving slot extending from edge to edge inthe upper surface adapted to receive a length of the material to be cutand two guide slots at right angles to one another, the guide slotsintersecting with one another and with the receiving slot at one edge ofthe upper surface. By providing the cutting slots at the edge of theupper surface a knife can conveniently be used as the implement forcutting the material to be mitred without the handle of the knife beingobstructed by the mitre block. A handle having a relatively short andtherefore more rigid blade can be employed.

Preferably two guide slots are provided at both edges of the uppersurface to intersect with the longitudinal slot at both ends thereof.The mitre block can then be used with the cutting implement in eitherhand. A downwardly extending stop having an engagement surface parallelto the receiving slot can be provided. The engagement surface can abutthe front edge of a work bench or the like to assist in holding themitre block in a steady position to facilitate accurate cutting.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference tothe accompanying perspective view of a mitre block according to theinvention.

The mitre block has a rectangular flat upper surface 1 in which isprovided a longitudinal receiving slot 2 extending between oppositeedges 3 and 4 of the upper surface. At one end of the receiving slot 2are provided guide slots 5 and 6 at right angles to one another and eachintersecting with the receiving slot at the edge of the upper surface.Similar guide slots 7 and 8 are provided at the opposite edge of theupper surface to intersect with the receiving slot at that edge. Theguide slots are at 45° to the receiving slot.

As can be seen from the drawing the receiving slot and the guide slotsdo not extend through the base 9 of the mitre block, since otherwise theblock would no longer be in one piece. Similarly the guide slots 5, 6, 7and 8 do not extend to the longitudinal edges 10 and 11 of the uppersurface parallel to the receiving slot.

A downwardly extending stop in the form of a continuous flange 12 isprovided parallel to the receiving slot to extend beyond the base 9 ofthe block.

In use the article to cut with a mitred end is positioned in thereceiving slot. The receiving slot can be dimensioned to suit the sizeof particular articles to be cut so that the article is a push fit inthe slot.

The block can then be held by hand with the flange 12 engaging e.g. thefront edge of a work bench or table and a hand held knife guided by oneof the slots 5, 6, 7 or 8 to cut a mitred end on the article. If theknife is held in the right hand the slots 5 and 6 can be used to cutopposite mitres at opposite ends of a length of material, the materialbeing reversed end for end in the receiving slot for each cut.

If the knife is held in the user's left hand the slots 7 and 8 can beused more conveniently in the same way.

Whichever guide slot is used the mitre block does not impede the freeuse of the knife due to obstruction with the handle of the knife.

The mitre block of the present invention can be of solid constructionbut may conveniently be moulded of plastics materials having the slotsformed in hollow ribs extending downwardly from the upper surface.

I claim:
 1. A mitre block comprising a receiving slot to receive thearticle to be cut and two guide slots at right angles to one another forguiding the cutting implement, the guide slots intersecting with oneanother and with the receiving slot at a common intersection point atone end of the receiving slot.
 2. A mitre block according to claim 1having a downwardly extending stop with an engagement surface parallelto the receiving slot and two guide slots at both ends of the receivingslot.